S3 EP8: The Business of Microgravity

Series 3

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Microgravity exists where only very small gravitational forces are experienced. This is a unique environment that creates new opportunities and challenges for scientific research, technology development, and human spaceflight.

We can use microgravity to study how living organisms adapt and change in a weightless environment – this research can help us better understand the effects of long-duration space travel on the human body but can also lead to the development of new medical treatments and therapies.

Additionally, microgravity can be used to study physical phenomena, such as fluid dynamics and combustion, and aid the development of new material and alloys which would be otherwise impossible to study here on Earth.

Episode Guests

A person with long brown hair wearing a patterned shirt sits outside near brick buildings, looking at the camera.

Jane Davies

Business Development Associate

Satellite Applications Catapult
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Laura González Llamazares

Space Manufacturing Lead

Satellite Applications Catapult
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Brian Zielinski-Smith

Technical Services Director

Gravitilab
Person in a black shirt with short hair stands against a plain background, smiling slightly.

Charlotte Daniels

Science and Data Lead

Gravitilab

Episode Host

Person with short brown hair and blue eyes wearing a navy shirt, standing in front of a blurred bookshelf background.

Dallas Campbell

Broadcaster and Writer

Dallas presents some of television’s most popular factual programmes, his immersive documentaries lift the curtain on our human planet, giving audiences of all ages and backgrounds an exclusive backstage pass to some of the world’s most fascinating stories, ideas and places.

Beyond television, Dallas is an author, speaker, and ambassador for STEM education. He works closely with several major outreach initiatives which help kids across the UK think creatively about technology and innovation. He works internationally with the British Council’s FameLab project, designing and running workshops for early career academics, helping them hone their science communication skills.

Resources

  • In a recent company spotlight blog, our team sat down with Brian to discuss the significance of Gravitilab’s work simulating microgravity in the Earth’s atmosphere, their flagship services – sounding rockets and UAV drop pods – and space sustainability. Read here>>
  • As part of our PROSPERO newsletter we share conversations, insights, and expertise from our Catapult team members, exploring how their roles affect us as an organisation, their impact on the wider sector and what drives them personally. Check out our interview with Laura Gonzalez Llamazares. We explore her career journey across Spain, Australia, and the UK, her work on establishing new manufacturing facilities for the space industry, and why it’s so important we start teaching the younger generations about the power of space. Read here>>

Get in Touch

If you’d like to contact us about any episode of In-Orbit, collaboration opportunities, or to find out more about how we can help your business, please email marketing@sa.catapult.org.uk